Wood County courthouse closes all but 1 entrance

5/26/2005

BOWLING GREEN - Visitors to the Wood County courthouse and county office building yesterday were directed by signs to the Summit Street entrance and, once inside, to metal detectors and package scanners.

It was the first time the county has locked down the complex to a single entrance and required everyone, including most employees, to be checked for weapons.

"It's going excellent, I think," said Tom Chidester, chief court constable. "We prepared for it. We sent notices to employees and the public. We have adequate training and equipment."

By day's end, security officers had removed at least 17 pocketknives from individuals, although all of them were returned to their owners when that person left the building.

Lines were few even during the morning when employees were arriving and at the noon hour when workers returned from lunch.